St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-11
CLEVELAND'S ELECTION.
The Excitement it Caused at Min.
neapOlis-The Plug.hat Riot.

Cleveland's election was a surprise party
OF large dimensions to the people of
Minnesota. Only in local politics had
Democracy asserted itself since Governor
Sibley's election in 1858. The Republi-
cans could stay away from the polls and
still roll up 10000 majority. No wonder
they began to doubt that the election of a
Democrat to any Office higher than
mayor was either a probability or a pos
sibility. The night of the election the
earnest and thoughtful Republicans came
trooping down town in Minneapolis for
the purpose of indulging in that time
honored practice and enjoyable recrea-
ton of rubbing it inn on the Demo
Gratis. The scenes that night did not
differ materially from those which
had marked the nights of the first Tues
days after the first Mondays of previous
Novembers. The returns came in from
the State showing the usual Republican
majorities, meagre dispatches from towns
and cities all over the country were re-
ceived and bulletined in front of the
newspaper offices. There were cheers for
Blaine and Logan" and groans for
Cleveland and Hendricks"
Old Republicans congratulated each
other that the country had been again
saved, and smiled approval upon the en-.
thusiasm of the young Republicans en-
gagged in 'whooping 'er up" At MID
night they went home with the COM
placency begOtten of the consciousness
that the earth was theirs, politically
speaking. The next day this impression
was not changed. OF course the Demo-
Gratis claimed their candidate was
elected, but the Democrats always did
that. Of course New York was in doubt,
but the unwavering faith that Republic
anism is mighty and must prevail would
not permit the thought to be entertained.
The dispatches from hour to hour, how.
ever, seemed to confirm the claim of the
impudent Democrats. Then Republican
laughed, then they were Indignant and
finally they were disconsolate. They bet
their money on Blaine and they yelled
Tor Blaine. A curious transformation
was then witnessed. The Democrats
multiplied as if by a miracle. They
came out from their holes and they
stayed out. They became aggressive and
'ubilant. A week went on and great
crowds choked the streets in front of
bulletin boards: Everybody caught the
excitement, and the entire city got into
the habit of staying out all night.
The spirit of mischief grew reckless
Aid. Sly got his silk hat smashed one
morning, and in return smashed some
other, fellows. This started regular
plug-hat riot. Hats were snatched and
were kicked about like footballs. and
trampled upon by a thousand feet. By
evening man wearing a plug hat be-
came an object of attention, and would
be hunted like rabbit until his tile had
disappeared. Howling crowds paraded
the streets hunting for plug hated vic
tins. Even such men as the venerable
Mayor Pillsbury and Colonel King did
not escape, but went home hat
less. 1t took several DAYS and a
number of policemen to subdue the
crusade against high hats. Then came
the Democratic ratification meeting. when
enthusiasm fairly dubbed over, and men
yelled themselves hoarse for Cleveland
and Democracy. The subdued Re-
publicans silently withdrew from
the streets and paid their bets. One
feature of the excitement was the
way in which the feeling of un-
certainty was kept up by means of
bogus kilograms in order that certain
Republicans, who had bet heavily
on Blaine, might get opportunities
to hedge. In this way one promi-
nent politician, who had wagered
= $1,000 on the Plumed Knight, man
aged to come out even.